It seems as though the EPA is trying to get more realistic with its fuel economy ratings by revising how the figures are calculated. It's admirable that they attempt this, but I'm afraid it won't make much difference in the way we collectively behave with our purchases. In converting from 2007 fuel economy labels to the 2008 ones, the average vehicle loses around 2-3 mpg (combined). Unless the person buying the vehicle is good at doing math in her head, it's not going to stop her from buying the vehicle she would have bought if she had only seen the 2007 label. "It's only 3 mpg" is what will be thought. The phrase "3 mpg is 15% more gas I have to buy," will never be spoken. So then the conversion to dollars won't happen either. To those that already own vehicles, realizing that the sticker numbers have gone down may make the buyers feel a little better that they're getting fuel economy closer to "what they're supposed to get". So there is some positive there, but then it may prevent people from trying to conserve fuel to try to match the sticker ratings. Also, this new scheme doesn't account for the many people that surpass the fuel economy ratings. I've done it with nearly every car I've owned, but some people never have. For examples of people that do this regularly, go to http://www.cleanmpg.com and see how some people have turned hypermiling into a science. Part of it is the way the vehicles are tested for fuel economy figures; the other part that accounts for real world fuel economy is the way they are driven.

I don't have scientific proof, but only logic to explain why certain vehicles exceed the fuel economy ratings, while others do much worse. Heavier vehicles take more energy to move and this disparity compared to lighter vehicles only increases as the rates of acceleration are increased. So a 3-ton SUV driven with a lead foot will miss the sticker by a higher percentage than a light compact driven with a lead foot. And at high speeds, tall vehicles don't fare well. They tend to have large frontal areas which hurt their ability to cut through the air. As vehicle speed doubles, aerodynamic drag quadruples, (based on scientific formulas). So if you're bad to begin with, the high speeds have a much worse effect. Add to that tires that have aggressive off-road oriented treads and you're heading for a career as a part-time gas station attendant whose job responsibility is to fuel your own vehicle.

One other area that is frequently not looked at is a vehicle's tendency to coast. This is inconsequential in the real world if you are cruising at a steady speed. You're going to hold the gas pedal steadily for any vehicle at a steady speed on flat ground. However, in decelerating, you're going to use a combination of engine braking and braking from your brakes. When it comes to fuel economy testing, vehicles that engine brake significantly, will require the throttle to be applied longer to maintain the rate of deceleration that the fuel economy cycle calls for. The test driver must follow the speed versus time profile closely. So the rating for vehicles that engine brake a lot will seem artificially low on the highway rating. Contrastingly, those that coast a lot will have artificially high numbers.

Having worked in the field of fuel economy simulation, I know that real vehicles aren't tested on roads for EPA figures. Rather, a coast-down value from a real car, (time to coast from one speed to another), is "dialed in" as resistance for a vehicle powertrain hooked up to a dynamometer, (basically rollers for the wheels to spin on without the vehicle actually moving). The test driver follows arbitrary speed versus time routes which have been around for ages and have little relation to the way we drive. We do more stop and go and higher speeds on the highway than the creators of the cycle ever envisioned. At least with the 2008 ratings, they're correcting some of the flaws by introducing colder cold starts, more air conditioning usage and higher speeds.

In the end, no matter how "realistic" the sticker ratings are, nothing can make up for the fact that somewhere in the ballpark of 10% to 30% of fuel economy difference is caused by driver behavior. Perhaps the government should educate the public about ways to conserve fuel with the vehicles they already have. At least some people would listen and it would be a relatively painless way for us to reduce our oil consumption in a short amount of time. Here's an idea for something more compelling than an environmental or conservation message. If the average driver drives 12,000 miles a year at $2.50 per gallon, the difference between getting 20 mpg and 25 mpg could add up to $30,000 in 40 years of driving if the money in the bank earns just 4% interest. If one were to switch to a vehicle that gets an average of 30 mpg, the amount jumps to nearly $50,000! Perhaps this will be more compelling than the revised EPA fuel economy labels. Whatever the message, we should all think a little more before we buy. Wasteful fuel consumption hurts not only the environment but also your pocketbook.

As I’ve been spending the past two weeks in Europe, I have noticed many differences in automotive culture. One thing in particular stood out however. This is the way Europeans accomplish very active lifestyles, without the need of what I, as an American, consider a proper accompanying vehicle.

This became evident as I journeyed from Germanyto the ski town of Scladming, for a weekend on the mountain. During the six hour trip, as I got closer to my destination, I noticed that, like in the US, more and more of the vehicles around me were also destined for ski weekends. However, unlike in the US, I didn’t notice a single SUV. Instead, passenger cars like my Opel were doing duty of transporting their occupants and gear through Alps. I also noticed that they were all loaded with accessories suited for such duty. Roof top ski racks and roof top cargo torpedoes were stylishly fashioned to almost every single vehicle. I also noticed that most every vehicle was fitted with appropriate snow tires.

This lifestyle of accessorization results in the ability to own a much more lean, efficient vehicle, which is better suited for daily life, with absolutely no sacrifice to flexibility to accommodate activities such as skiing. If you’re a skier like myself, you know that you don’t need a large vehicle to carry many sets of skis. In fact you prefer them to be outside, where thy won’t wet and soil the interior. Also, if you’ve ever driven with snow tires, you’ll question the need for any vehicle to have all wheel drive. Snow tires provide amazing grip in the absolute worst of road conditions. I learned from interviewing several Germans that snow tires are required by law during certain months and road conditions. Everybody there switches to them for the winter season.

So you have a region of people who are probably more active than the average American, but they don’t drive vehicles that we buy for that purpose. Yet they still get along just fine traversing The Alps and other treacherous road conditions. They still carry 4 – 7 adults on these journeys and all their gear. They drive with confidence, safety and security. This leads one to ask, “Why the difference?” Well, it’s complicated, but let's say that most of it is attributable to fuel costs. Fuel in Europe is two to four times more expensive than in the US. However, there are still lessons to be learned even for those of us who don’t bear the burden of expensive fuel. If we want to lead more responsible lives, there are other options besides driving a vehicle that is way too large for daily life, in effort accommodate less frequent activities. I say, right size your vehicle, then accessorize it for living.

Besides the many functional benefits that come from the outlook of accessorizing, there are also financial benefits. On average, an SUV in any given segment carries about a $3000 premium over it’s car counterpart. That does not include all wheel drive, which is about another $1500. Then add in the extra operating expenses such as fuel, and you’re easily talking about a $6,000 premium to own and SUV in the United States. Compare that to about $800 for a top-end Yakima roof rack system (which still gives you that active look) and $500 for a set of winter wheels and tires. That’s $4700 in savings and you’ll have a vehicle that is more fun to drive, better for the environment easier to maneuver and more comfortable. The choice is clear. For real life driving and living, we should learn a lesson from the Europeans and live right size, then accessorize.